figures



LOAD ISOLATING CONTAINER AND MANUFACTURE THEREOF Filed Oct. 16, .1961

March 24, 1964 R. L. MCCULL'OCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGS ROGER L. MCULLOCH $52 5. GET-4% FIG.|2

FIG.H

AT TO RNEY United States Patent 3,126,144 LOAD ISOLATING CONTAINER AND- MANUFACTURE THEREOF Roger L. McCulloch, 303 S. Clinton Ave., Oak Park, Ill. Filed Oct. 16, 1961, Ser. No. 145,287 6 Claims. (Cl. 229-49) This invention relates to a container adapted for isolating or separating a load from the container walls and to the manufacture of the container and its use in packaging operations. More particularly, the invention relates to a unitary container construction which performs the functions of both the usual packaging container and the protective packing materials employed therewith.

Damageable merchandise is packaged for shipment in a suitable protective shipping container. Various packing materials or spacers are inserted between the container walls and the merchandise, to isolate or space the merchandise fiom the walls. The walls and the merchandise may be spaced apart in this manner for a distance of 1 inch or more, as required. The spacers enable the container walls to take the forces of impacts thereon without damage to the merchandise. This protection is especially desirable when paperboard shipping containers or cartons are used.

It has been common practice when shipping damage able merchandise to enclose it in a larger shipping container, and then insert spacers around the merchandise at the top and bottom of the container. For example, the merchandise is placed in corrugated board or other paperboard containers, and folded paperboard spacers are in serted. The latter may be tubes, channels, or the like of generally rectangular cross-section, which may be empty or contain additional inserted material, and, owing to their shape, are often referred to as traps.

The foregoing prior practice requires both a supply of containers or container blanks and a supply of packing insert materials. The latter must be cut and assembled to meet the requirements, and time and labor is required to package the merchandise therewith. Difficulties may be encountered in properly locating the inserts and in keeping them in position. The procedures may be excessively consumptive or wasteful of the packing materials. The assembled package may furnish inadequate protection despite the expenditure of materials and labor.

An object of the present invention is to provide a load isolating container which overcomes the prior disadvantages, and particularly, which includes a container body and a load spacer in a single unit and eliminates the need for packaging inserts.

Another object is to provide a preformed load isolating container which requires only that the merchandise be inserted and the container be closed in packaging the merchandise for shipment.

A particular object is to provide a container blank and container formed therefrom including a container body element and a spacer element secured thereto, which spacer element forms a load spacer when the container is assembled around an article of merchandise.

An additional object is to provide a strong and rigid load isolating container constructed of standard container materials, especially paperboard, which is economical of materials and labor.

A further object is to provide a versatile and adaptable container which is especially suitable for shipping furniture, equipment, appliance, and the like.

Additional objects include the provision of methods of manufacturing a load isolating container and of packaging merchandise which are adapted to mechanical or manual operation.

These and other objects, advantages and functions of the invention will be apparent on reference to the specification and to the attached drawings illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention, in which like parts are identified by like reference symbols in each of the views, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a shipping package according to the invention, including a preferred load isolating container enclosing an article of merchandise, with parts broken away to reveal the interior;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view on a reduced scale of a paperboard container body blank as initially prepared according to the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a corresponding view of a paperboard spacer element blank as initially prepared;

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view on a larger scale of a load isolating container blank produced from the assembled blanks of FIGURES 2 and 3;

FIGURE 5 is a transverse sectional view of the container blank taken on line 5-5 of FIGURE 4 and further enlar ed, with the blank folded slightly for illustrative purposes;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged end view of a folded blank having the construction of FIGURE 4, with part of the construction removed for clarity;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of another embodiment of the load isolating container blank;

FIGURE 8 is a view like FIGURE 5 of the embodimerit of FIGURE 7, taken on line 8-8 thereof;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary top perspective view of the container embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 16, illustrating the manner of closing the end or top flaps;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the construction and assembly of the parts of the container illustrated in FIGURES 1-6, showing the juncture of the side and end walls as viewed from the interior of the container;

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional and elevational view on line 11-11 of FIGURE 10; and

FIGURES 12 and 13 are fragmentary views like FIG- URE 5 of two additional embodiments of the container blank.

The load isolating container of the invention includes a container body having side walls and an end wall angularly joined to a side wall, and a spacer secured to the end wall and joined side wall on respective sides of the juncture of the walls, the spacer extending inwardly of the container body to provide a load isolating corner construction.

In a preferred embodiment, the load isolating container is formed of a blank which includes a container body blank and a spacer element secured thereto. Transverse and longitudinal fold lines are provided on the body blank, and longitudinal fold lines are provided on the spacer element. The container blank is adapted for folding on the transverse fold lines to provide container side walls and for folding on a body blank longitudinal fold line to provide an end wall forming a corner with a side wall, whereby the spacer element folds on the longitudinal fold lines thereof to provide a load isolating corner construction extending inwardly of the corner.

In a preferred method of making a load isolating container according to the invention, a sheet material body blank is longitudinally scored to provide an end wall fold line. A sheet material spacer blank is longitudinally scored to provide a plurality of spaced parallel fold lines. The blanks are assembled with the spacer fold lines on opposite sides of the end wall fold line, and the blanks are secured together while remaining sepa- The assembled 1 blanks are transversely scored to provide side wall fold lines. The blanks are folded on the side wall fold lines 3 to provide container side walls, and on the end wall fold lines to provide container side walls, and on the end wall fold line to provide an end wall angularly related to a side wall, in assembling the container. The spacer blank folds on the spacer fold lines to provide an inwardly extending load isolating corner construction.

Referring to the drawings, a shipping package is illustrated in FIGURE 1, which includes a load isolating container and an article of merchandise 12 contained therein. The container is rectangular and includes four side walls at right angles to each other, two of which are identified by the numbers 14 and 16. The container also includes parallel top and bottom end walls at right angles to the side walls, the top end wall being indicated by the number 18. The article of merchandise or load 12 is isolated or spaced from the four side walls by respective upper and lower inner peripheral load isolating corner constructions and 22. The container construction enables impacts to be absorbed by the side walls such as 14 and 16 without damage to the merchandise.

The load isolating container 10 is especially useful for packaging furniture, ofiice equipment, and various appliances such as television sets. The container may be constructed entirely of paperboard, preferably corrugated board, to provide a strong rigid protective unit which is light weight and economical.

The load isolating container 10 is formed by assembly of a container blank 24- illustrated in FIGURES 4-6. The container blank is constructed of a container body blank 26 and a spacer element or blank 28, illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3, each made of sheet material which in the illustrative preferred embodiment is single wall corrugated paperboard. The type of material, number of plies and thickness of the blanks may be varied according to the requirements. For example, either element may be constructed of single wall or double wall corrugated board having the same or different flute sizes, and other combinations may be employed. Thus, the body blank 26 may be constructed of double wall corrugated board to provide additional stacking strength.

In manufacturing the container blank 24, the body blank 26 is longitudinally pre-scored on a surface thereof to provide spaced parallel fold or score lines 30 and 32 which are spaced inwardly from the respective longitudinal edges 34 and 36 of the blank. In the illustrative construction, two identical spacer elements 28 are employed, which are substantially coterminous with the body blank 26. Each spacer element is longitudinally pre-scored to provide two space parallel longitudinal fold lines 38 and 40 on one surface spaced inwardly from the longitudinal edges thereof. A third longitudinal reverse fold or score line 42 is provided on the opposite surface of the spacer element, intermediate the two fold lines 38 and 40.

The body blank 26 and two spacer elements 28 are assembled as illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5, with the respective outer and inner fold lines 38 and 48 on opposite sides of the respective body blank fold lines 36 and 32, in spaced parallel relation thereto. The longitudinal marginal portions 44 and 46 of the spacer elements are secured to the body blank 26 by suitable means, such as by staples 4-8. Alternatively, as illustrated in the embodiment of FIGURES 7 and 8, the marginal portions may be secured by a layer 50 of adhesive. When the components are thus assembled and secured together, the fold lines 38 and 40 on the outer surface of the spacer ele ment are spaced equidistantly from the respective body blank fold lines 30 and 32, and the spacer element reverse fold line 42 is likewise spaced equidistantly from the surface fold lines 38 and 4t) and is superimposed on one of the body blank fold lines 30 and 32.

The longitudinal body blank fold lines 30 and 32 provide end wall or flap fold lines or scores in, the container blank 24. The assembly of the body blank and the spacer elements 28 is conveniently supplied to a printerslotter for performing the next operations, or they may be performed manually. Three transverse spaced parallel side walls or panel fold lines or scores 52, 54, and 56 are provided on the assembled blanks. These fold lines are normally disposed vertically, and the longitudinal score lines 30 and 32 are disposed horizontally in using the container, in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1. In the conventional manufacture of a container blank, transverse slits are also made adjacent the respective longitudinal edges of the blank, to separate end wall flaps therealong. In the invention, four transverse slots as indicated at 58, 6t), 62 and 64 are provided, which extend inwardly from each longitudinal edge 34 and 36 to the body blank fold lines 30 and 32. Two slots are provided between each alternate pair of transverse fold lines, or between a fold line and a free edge, i.e., between lines 52 and 54 and between line 56 and free edge 66. One side of each slot is aligned with one fold line of each alternate pair.

The transverse slots 58-454 also extend inwardly to the spacer element reverse fold lines 42, which as noted above are located over the body blank longitudinal fold lines. However, the spacer element reverse fold lines may be disposed in other locations which require or permit the slots to terminate in the spacer elements 28 at corresponding different locations, as will be described subsequently. Two slits as represented by 68 and 70 are also made on each spacer element between the reverse fold line 42 and the inner fold line 40, along each transverse fold line of the aforementioned alternate pairs. The slits transversely sever all but the inner marginal portions 46 of the spacer elements, providing four independently folding spacer element portions 28a, 1), c, and d. A stitch flap 72 and transverse score line 74 may, if desired, be formed by the printer-slotter, along a transverse edge of the blank.

The assembled blanks as thus cut and scored provide the load isolating container blank 24. Four severed end wall flaps or flap panels 76, 78, 80, and 82 are formed on the body blank 26 between one longitudinal edge 34 and the adjacent longitudinal fold line 30, and they may constitute the top closure for the container. Four like end wall flaps 77, 79, 81 and 83 are provided between the opposite longitudinal edge 36 and the adjacent longitudinal fold line 32, and they may form the bottom closure. The top and bottom flaps are respectively integral with side wall panels 84, 86, 88, and, on the body blank, being joined along the respective longitudinal fold lines 30 and 32. The side wall panels are integral with adjacent panels along the respective transverse fold lines 52, 54, and 56 therebetween. A marginal side wall panel 84 is integral with the stitch fiap 72 along the transverse score line 74 thereof. In the assembled container, the alternate end flaps 78 and 82, and 79 and 83 are inner flaps at the respective ends, and the remaining flaps are outer flaps.

The container blank 24 is folded along the alternate transverse fold lines 52 and 56 and stitched together or otherwise secured by suitable means, in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 6. The stitch flap 72 is, for example, stapled preferably on the outer surface of the side wall panel 8t! at the opposite transverse edge 66 of the blank. The folded and stitched blank may be bundled, shipped, and stored in this form prior to use. It will be noted from the illustration of FIGURE 6 that the corrugations or flutes 92 preferably extend transversely, or vertically in the resulting container.

As illustrated in FIGURE 9, the folded blank 24 is opened in the process of assembling the container 10, and an article of merchandise such as shown at 12 in FIG.- URE l is inserted. The inner end flaps 78 and 82 are first folded at right angles to the adjoining side wall panels 86 and 90, forming corners therewith. At the same time, the spacer element portions 28b and 28d secured thereto set up as spacers or traps on opposite sides of the article, as will be more clearly evident in connection with the subsequent description of FIGURES and 11. Marginal openings remain in the closure, corresponding to the transverse slots 53 and 64, and to the slots 60 and 62 at the opposite sides of the flaps. The outer end flaps 76 and 80 are next folded onto the inner flaps 78 and 82, and form corners with the remaining side wall panels 84 and 88. The flaps are secured together by suitable means such as adhesive or staples. The spacer element portions 28a and 280 are received within the recesses provided by the transverse slots 58 and 64, and 60 and 62, respectively, and set up as spacers on the remaining opposite sides of the article. The opposite ends of the spacer elements such as 28:: nest in the ends of adjacent spacer element portions, being seated on ledges or shoulders of the latter such as illustrated at 94 on spacer portion 28d in FIGURES 4 and 9.

In like manner, the opposite or bottom end of the container is closed on the article of merchandise. An internal view of the bottom closure is illustrated in FIG- URE 10, and upper corners of the container present the same appearance when viewed from within. In this embodiment, the basic construction of the spacers formed by each of the spacer element portions 28a-a' is the same, and therefore the construction will be described with reference to the spacer element 28a. When an end flap such as 77 is folded at a right angle to the integral side wall panel 84 along the longitudinal fold line 32, the spacer element 28a folds inwardly along its fold lines 38 and 40. The spacer element also folds on its reverse fold line 42 to form a reverse bend thereat. The spacer forms a square trap with the corner formed at the body fold line 32.

The spacer includes two marginal elongated strip portions 44 and 46 respectively secured on the inner surface of the end flap 77 and on the inner surface of the side wall panel 84. An elongated spacer strip portion 96a is integral with the marginal portion 44 on the flap along the fold line 38, and it extends inwardly of the container body at a right angle to the flap. Likewise, an elongated strip portion 98a of equal width is integral with the marginal portion 46 on the side wall panel 84, and it extends inwardly of the container at a right angle to the wall panel. The strip portions 96a and 8zzare integral with each other and form a right angle corner at the reverse fold line 42. The strip portion 6a extending from the flap 77 is thus parallel to the side wall panel 83 and extends vertically in the container, and the strip portion 98a extending from the wall panel is parallel to the flap 7'7 and extends horizontally. The vertical strip portion 96a and the corresponding portions of the remaining spacers abut on the upstanding sides of the article 12, as illustrated in FIGURE 1.

As previously noted, the spacers 28b and 28d secured to the inner end flaps are recessed and constructed at their opposite ends to receive the ends of the remaining spacers 28a and 280 in nesting relation. Thus, the transverse slot 64 illustrated in FIGURE 4 terminates in the spacer 28d at a ledge 94 on which the adjoining spacer 28a is seated, as illustrated in FIGURE 9. Likewise, one of two like ledge portions of a strip portion 981) on the spacer 28b is indicated at 100 in FIGURES 4 and 10. The slots 58 and 64 which are aligned in closing the flaps, as shown in FIGURE 9, and similarly the remaining slots, have widths substantially equal to the width of the inner spacer strip portion 98a. This construction accommodates the spacers on the outer end flaps in closing the flaps, and the construction is strong and rigid. The spacers 28a and 280 abut on the opposite side Wall panels 86 and 9G. The ledge portions such as 94 and 106 on the spacer portions 28d and 28b abut on the marginal strip portions 46 secured on the opposite side wall panels 84 and 88, and the vertical strip portions such as 961) on the spacer portions 28b and d abut on the vertical strip portions such as 96a on the spacers 23a and c. The ledge portions such as 94 and 100 also serve to interlock the adjoining spacer ends, and they provide a tight end closure.

The relationship of the parts is also illustrated on a larger scale in FIGURE 11. While the several corru gated board thicknesses are illustrated as being the same, they may differ, as previously noted. An advantage'of this embodiment is that if it be desired to reduce the bulk of the spacer marginal portions 44 and 46, and particularly the former when a spacer element of substantial thickness is employed, the element 28 as illustrated in FIGURE 3 may be compressed or crushed along the marginal portions 44 and 46 prior to assembly.

The foregoing uniform square spacer construction is adapted for loads having uniform spacing and support requirements. The size of the spacer may be increased or decreased by correspondingly increasing or decreasing the distance between the spacer element fold lines 33 and 40. The construction also may be modified in appropriate ways to provide diiferent sizes and shapes among the spacer portions secured to the several wall panels and integral flaps. FIGURES 7 and 8 illustrate a very useful embodiment in which the spacer portions secured to one side wall panel and its integral flaps are oblong while the remaining spacer portions are square. This construction is especially adapted for articles which have protruding parts, such as television sets, or which require additional spacer width on one side for other reasons.

The load isolating container blank 102 is constructed of two spacer elements 104 assembled on a container blank 1% in similar manner to the preceding embodiment. The body blank is provided with two spaced parallel longitudinal fold lines 108 and 110. Unlike the preceding embodiment, one spacer element portion 104a is scored to provide fold lines 112 and 114 which are unsymmetrical with respect to the body blank fold line 108 when the spacer element is arranged with the fold lines 116 and 118 on the remaining portions symmetrically disposed. A reverse fold line 120 is provided on the unsymmetrical portion, and it is spaced from one surface fold line 112 a distance equal to the distance between the remaining surface fold line 114 and the body blank fold line 108. A reverse fold line 122 is provided on the symmetrical portions which is superimposed on the body blank fold line 108, and both are equidistant from the spacer element fold lines 116 and 118 as in the preceding embodiment. By this construction, an oblong rectangular spacer of extended width is provided by the portion 104a, and it has the same depth as the spacer formed by the portion 104]). In order to accommodate this greater width, transverse slots 124 of correspondingly greater width are provided in adjoining areas of the blank.

In the manufacture of the spacer element 104 from a single sheet, a marginal portion 126 of uniform Width may be provided along one longitudinal edge, while marginal portions 128 and 130 of unequal width are left on the respective spacer element portions 104a and 10% corresponding to the different spacer Widths. The marginal portions may be adhesively secured as indicated at 50 in FIGURE 8, or other means such as staples may be employed.

The container blank 102 is formed as a container in like manner to the preceding embodiment. The blank is folded on transverse fold lines such as 132. The alternate end flaps of reduced width, such as the flap 134, are first folded inwardly on the respective body fold lines 108 and 110. Thereafter, the remaining flaps, such as the flap 136, are folded inwardly, providing a closure like that illustrated in FIGURE 10 except for the dimensions.

In providing two adjoining oblong spacers such as represented by 10411, it is only necessary that one oblong spacer element portion be cut to the reverse fold line 120 to avoid interference in folding the flaps. However, it is more convenient to cut the portion to the body blank fold line 108 to which the body blank must be cut. On the other hand, where adjacent oblong spacers are employed to provide increased depth, the reverse fold line is located inwardly of the longitudinal body blank fold line 108. The spacer element must then be cut to the reverse fold line thereof and beyond the slot in the body blank, which terminates at the fold line thereof. Other arrangements such as the provision of an increased depth for but one of two adjoining spacers instead of an increased width as in FIGURE 7 may necessitate the removal of ledge portions such as indicated at 138 for the spacer portion 1041), to avoid interference therewith.

The constructions of the preceding embodiments are preferred for convenience and economy, and they are very well adapted for quantity production. However, the invention contemplates Other equivalent constructions. Referring for convenience to the embodiment of FIG- URES 1-6, the spacer element 28 may be composed of a plurality of separate portions. Alternatively, the two spacer elements 28 which are provided in the container blank 24 may be replaced by a single sheet which also extends over the area between the two inner marginal portions 46 to provide a double thickness side wall in this area for greater protection. The need for staples or other securing means between the two inner fold lines 40 will vary in such construction, depending upon such factors as the materials employed and the spacings of the fold lines.

FIGURE 12 illustrates another embodiment of a container blank with prime numbers used to designate elements corresponding to those of FIGURES 1-6. Spacer elements 28' are integral with a body blank 26' along the opposite longitudinal edges thereof, one edge being indicated at 34. This construction provides a double thickness end wall for greater protection. The construction has additional advantages in orienting the fold lines 30', 38', 40', and 42', which are oriented like those illustrated in FIGURES 1-6. Thus, a blank is initially scored to provide the foregoing fold lines. It is also cut scored along the edge 34', being cut preferably through only the outside liner 140 and the flutes of the corrugated board. The spacer element 28' is folded over on the blank 26 along the cut score line, whereby the fold lines become properly oriented without necessity for guiding the spacer element into position. The spacer element 28' along the opposite longitudinal edge, not illustrated, is assembled in the same manner.

In the integral construction of FIGURE 12, additional securing means for the outer marginal portions 44' on the spacer elements are not provided, but it may be desirable in some cases to employ such means. The inner marginal portions 46 are secured to the body blank 26' by the staples 48.

In situations where it is desirable to provide both greater side wall and greater end wall protection, a double wall board type of construction may be provided in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 13. Double prime numbers are used in this view to designate elements corresponding to those of FIGURES 1-6. Two spacer elements 28 are supplied by a single sheet 142 of paperboard which is assembled together with and adhesively secured or laminated to a co-extensive body blank sheet 144 in the manner of double wall board, while leaving the areas between the spacer element fold lines 38 and 4d" separable, i.e., free of adhesive or other securing means. Such an assembly may be provided with fold or score lines as represented by numbers 30", 38", 40 and 42" in one operation, most conveniently with all fold lines on outer surfaces. The body blank fold lines such as 30" and the spacer element reverse fold lines 42" are on surfaces opposite to those having the corresponding lines 3% (and 32) and 42 in the construction of FIGURES 1-6.

The load isolating container is adaptable to other changes and modifications. For example, the spacer elements may be die cut to accommodate handles, knobs, and other projections or irregularities. One or more of the spacer element portions may be eliminated ifone or more sides of the article do not require such protection.

The invention thus provides an advantageous load isolating container which affords to the user substantial savings in time, labor and materials. At the same time, the container is very effective to protect the merchanise in shipment. The container blank includes all of the necessary spacer elements and still is compact and requires relatively little shipping and storage space. The method of manufacture is simple and economical, and it is adaptable to mechanical or manual operation.

It will be apparent that various additional changes and modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended that all such changes and modifications be included within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A load isolating container which comprises a rectangular container body including four side walls joined together for enclosing a load,

and two opposite end closure Walls each including four flaps respectively adjoining said side walls integrally along fold lines;

and two spacers respectively secured to said end walls and to each of said side walls around the inner periphery of said container body,

said spacers each including four portions respectively secured to the flaps of one said end wall and to the respective side walls adjoining the flaps,

said spacer portions each including two marginal elongated strips respectively secured on the inner surfaces of the corresponding flap and of the side wall adjoining the flap and said strips being spaced from the fold line along which the flap and side wall adjoin,

each of said spacer portions also including two elongated strips respectively adjoining said marginal strips integrally along fold lines and extending inwardly of said container body normal to said corresponding flap and adjoining side wall respectively,

said inwardly extending strips being normal to each other and integrally joined together along a reverse fold line,

alternate said spacer portions of each spacer being shortened whereby recesses are provided at their opposite ends,

the adjacent ends of the remaining spacer portions being received in said recess,

said spacers thereby providing inwardly extending peripheral right angular load isolating corner constructions at opposite ends of said container body for enclosing a load.

2. A load isolating container blank which comprises a sheet material container body blank,

transverse fold lines on said body blank,

a longitudinal fold line on said body blank,

a sheet material spacer element including adjacent portions located on opposite sides of one of said transverse fold lines and extending across said longitudinal fold line,

said spacer element portions being secured to said body blank on opposite sides of said longitudinal fold line at points spaced therefrom,

longitudinal fold lines on said spacer element portions disposed on opposite sides of said body blank longitudinal fold line and parallel thereto,

and means forming a transverse slot in said body blank extending from a longitudinal edge thereof and located on one side of said one transverse fold line with one side of the slot in alignment with said one transverse fold line,

said container blank being adapted thereby for folding on said transverse fold lines to provide container side walls,

and for folding on said body blank longitudinal fold line to provide flaps on opposite sides of said one transverse fold line forming a container end wall and forming corners with the side walls on opposite sides of said one transverse fold line,

whereby said spacer element portions fold on said longitudinal fold lines thereof to provide a load isolating corner construction extending inwardly of said cornets,

and said slot receives the one of said spacer element portions located on the opposite side of said one transverse fold line.

3. A load isolating container blank which comprises a sheet material container body blank, transverse fold lines on said body blank, a longitudinal fold line on said body blank, a sheet material spacer element substantially coterruinous with said body blank and extending across said longitudinal fold line, said spacer element being secured to said body blank on opposite sides of said longitudinal fold line at points spaced therefrom, longitudinal fold lines on said spacer element disposed on opposite sides of said body blank longitudinal fold line and parallel thereto, and means forming transverse slots in said body blank extending from a longitudinal edge thereof, two said slots being formed between each alternate pair of said transverse fold lines with one side of each slot in alignrnent respectively with one fold line of each said pair, said container blank being adapted thereby for folding on said transverse fold lines to provide container side walls, and for folding on said body blank longitudinal fold line to provide flaps forming a container end wall and forming corners with the side Walls, whereby said spacer element folds on said longitudinal fold lines thereof to provide a load isolating corner construction extending inwardly of said corners, and said slots receive portions of said spacer element located between adjacent pairs of said transverse fold lines.

4. A load isolating container blank which comprises a sheet material container body blank, transverse fold lines on said body blank comprising the transverse edges of side wall panels therebetween, a longitudinal fold line on said body blank comprising the longitudinal edges of said side wall panels and of adjoining end flap panels between said transverse fold lines, a one-piece sheet material spacer elernent substantially coterminous with said body blank and extending across said longitudinal fold line, said space-r element including adjoining portions each secured to one of said flap panels and to an adjoining said side wall panel at points spaced from said longitudinal fold line, inner and outer longitudinal fold lines on each of said spacer element portions disposed on opposite sides of said body blank longitudinal fold line and parallel thereto, a longitudinal reverse fold line on each said spacer element portion between said first-named spacer element fold lines and parallel thereto, means forming two transverse slots in said body blank between each alternate pair of said transverse fold lines and coextensive with said flap panel therebetween, one side of each said slot being aligned respectively with one fold line of each said pair, and means forming transverse slots in said spacer element portions registering with said first-named slots and extending inwardly at least to said reverse fold 10 lines, the widths of said first and second-named slots substantially equalling the distances between said reverse fold lines and said inner fold lines on adjoining spacer element portions, said container blank being adapted thereby for folding on said transverse fold lines to provide container side walls, and for folding on said body blank longitudinal fold line to provide flaps forming a container end wall and forming corners with the side Walls,

whereby said spacer element portions fold on said longitudinal fold lines thereof to form load isolating corners extending inwardly of said first-named corners, and said first and second-named slots receive said adjoining spacer element portions with the latter abutting opposite said side walls and the several said spacer element portions abutting each other at their junctures.

5. A load isolating container blank which comprises a sheet material container body blank, two spaced parallel longitudinal fold lines on said body blank, two sheet mate-rial spacer elements substantially coterminous with said body blank and extending respectively across said longitudinal fold lines, said spacer elements being secured to said body blank on opposite sides of respective said longitudinal fold lines at points spaced therefrom, longitudinal fold lines on said spacer elements disposed on opposite sides of respective said body blank longitudinal fold lines and parallel thereto, a longitudinal reverse fold line on each said spacer element between said first-named spacer element fold lines and parallel thereto, said spacer elements being transversely severed for independently folding portions thereof disposed between successive pairs of said transverse fold lines, and means forming transverse slots in said body blank extending from opposite longitudinal edges thereof, two said slots extending from each longitudinal edge between each alternate pair of said transverse fold lines with one side of each slot in alignment respectively with one fold line of each said pair, said container blank being adapted thereby for folding on said transverse fold lines to provide container side walls, and for folding on said body blank longitudinal fold lines to provide flaps forming opposite container end walls and forming corners with the side walls, whereby said spacer element portions told on said longitudinal fold lines thereof to provide a load isolating corner construction extending inwardly of said corners, and said slots receive portions of said spacer elements located between adjacent pairs of said transverse fold lines.

6. A container blank as defined in claim 5 wherein said two spacer elements are components of a single sheet extending transversely across said side walls.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 698,106 Dalsheimer Apr. 2 2, 1902 1,713,548 Oppenheim May 21, 1929 2,558,918 Zinn July 3, 1951 2,589,045 Brooks Mar. 11, 1952 2,603,402 Strauss July 15, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 936,324 France Feb. 16, 948

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,126,144 March 24,-1964 Roger L. McCulloch It is herebycertified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 1, line 67, for "appliance" read appliances column 3, lines 1 and 2, strike out "and on the end wall fold lines to provide container side walls,"; line 49,- for "space" read spaced column 4, line 3, for "walls" read wall column 8, line 48, for "recess" read recesses column 10, line 17, after "blank," insert spaced parallel transverse fold lines on said body blank,

Signed and sealed this 28th day of July 1964,

(SEAL) Attest:

Es'roN G. JOHNSON EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer 1 Commissioner of Patents 

1. A LOAD ISOLATING CONTAINER WHICH COMPRISES A RECTANGULAR CONTAINER BODY INCLUDING FOUR SIDE WALLS JOINED TOGETHER FOR ENCLOSING A LOAD, AND TWO OPPOSITE END CLOSURE WALLS EACH INCLUDING FOUR FLAPS RESPECTIVELY ADJOINING SAID SIDE WALLS INTEGRALLY ALONG FOLD LINES; AND TWO SPACERS RESPECTIVELY SECURED TO SAID END WALLS AND TO EACH OF SAID SIDE WALLS AROUND THE INNER PERIPHERY OF SAID CONTAINER BODY, SAID SPACERS EACH INCLUDING FOUR PORTIONS RESPECTIVELY SECURED TO THE FLAPS OF ONE SAID END WALL AND TO THE RESPECTIVE SIDE WALLS ADJOINING THE FLAPS, SAID SPACER PORTIONS EACH INCLUDING TWO MARGINAL ELONGATED STRIPS RESPECTIVELY SECURED ON THE INNER SURFACES OF THE CORRESPONDING FLAP AND OF THE SIDE WALL ADJOINING THE FLAP AND SAID STRIPS BEING SPACED FROM THE FOLD LINE ALONG WHICH THE FLAP AND SIDE WALL ADJOIN, EACH OF SAID SPACER PORTIONS ALSO INCLUDING TWO ELONGATED STRIPS RESPECTIVELY ADJOINING SAID MARGINAL STRIPS INTEGRALLY ALONG FOLD LINES AND EXTENDING INWARDLY OF SAID CONTAINER BODY NORMAL TO SAID CORRESPONDING FLAP AND ADJOINING SIDE WALL RESPECTIVELY, SAID INWARDLY EXTENDING STRIPS BEING NORMAL TO EACH OTHER AND INTEGRALLY JOINED TOGETHER ALONG A REVERSE FOLD LINE, ALTERNATE SAID SPACER PORTIONS OF EACH SPACER BEING SHORTENED WHEREBY RECESSES ARE PROVIDED AT THEIR OPPOSITE ENDS, THE ADJACENT ENDS OF THE REMAINING SPACER PORTIONS BEING RECEIVED IN SAID RECESS, SAID SPACERS THEREBY PROVIDING INWARDLY EXTENDING PERIPHERAL RIGHT ANGULAR LOAD ISOLATING CORNER CONSTRUCTIONS AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID CONTAINER BODY FOR ENCLOSING A LOAD. 